Act anyway

I recently gave a collaborative talk with a close colleague on what it means to be a Student of Potential.

The talk was in front of an entire school.

I was with a bit of nerves. Sure. Were they ruling me though?

Nope.

Why? I’ve done this so many times now that you just kinda learn to trust yourself and know that the nerves are part of the deal.

The colleague I collaborated with is still building speaking experience and said on that morning he felt nervous.

I almost wanted to say ‘Good!’

Check this below written by Stephen Pressfield in the War of Art.

“What Henry Fonda does, after puking into the toilet in his dressing room, is to clean up and march out onstage. He’s still terrified but he forces himself forward in spite of his terror. He knows that once he gets out into the action, his fear will recede and he’ll be okay.”

Well I did not chunder! Nor did my colleague. Did we have some nerves, excitement and all that good stuff heightening before we stepped?

Sure!

Did it fade as we leaned in to speak?

You bet!

What ever you got going on + the feelings that go with it…

Remember you can do it.

You’ve experienced nerves before and still cracked on.

You’ll probably experience nerves again and will still have the capacity to crack on.

“The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear, then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there’s no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist. (Pressfield).

Crack on even when the fear or nerves are there. There is courage to that.